Keeping the Integrity of Cultural Conservation, Borobudur Temple Visitors Must Wear Special Sandals

JAKARTA - Visitors to Borobudur Temple must use special sandals to maintain the preservation and integrity of the world's cultural heritage. Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno said special "upanat" sandals will be produced for tourists who want to climb into the limited structure of Borobudur Temple.

The sandals will be produced by creative economic actors around the Borobudur area, especially Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), to open up business opportunities so as to improve the economy and community welfare.

"The production of the sandals is estimated to open around 1,200 jobs for the local community," said Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno during a visit to Borobudur Temple, Magelang, Central Java, Friday, January 14.

According to the instructions of the Borobudur Conservation Center, the Technical Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Education and Culture, the temple will receive visits from 4,000 people in the courtyard and 1,000 people who can ride using "upanat" sandals in relief number 150 Karmawibhangga (sculpture at the foot of Borobudur Temple).

These sandals must be used by tourists so as not to damage the stairs and building structures in the temple.

"We will definitely prioritize conservation (Borobudur Temple) and we also hope that this is part of meeting the needs of the community because the community has been facing the (COVID-19) pandemic for more than two years," he said, quoted from ANTARA.

The head of the Borobudur Conservation Center, Wiwit Kasiyati, said that visitors who use special sandals to the limited structure of Borobudur Temple will be limited in number.

"There is still work to be done for us to open the Borobudur Temple to be able to go up to the restricted structure for visitors," said Wiwit.